In the initial stage there will be a psychological effects which will definitely affects the work life of HIV positive individual. Given some measures like supportive approach/roles from other colleagues and family members, and provisions of regular monitoring individual’s state of health and special care for HIV affected individual ,will not make that significant different on their ability to perform

Hi Victor,
This is quit a controversial issue.
Allow me to quote an old adage that says "A healthy nation is a wealthy nation." end quote
Without doubt good health is an important aspect of wealth creation(work). Healthy individuals are able to work longer hours compared to their less healthy counterparts. This is true not only concerning HIV/AIDS but with all other diseases. However, may I be quick to state that this is not to mean that people living with HIV/AIDS cannot/should not work.

In Africa alone, the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are there for all of us to see. Nations are being robed of energetic and productive youth. Our message should therefore be to encourage young people to protect themselves from acquiring the deadly virus, while encouraging those that are already infected to live positive lives. Be-The-Best!

off course Susiku, this is indeed a controversial issue but nonetheless worthy of discussion. I am intentionally not commenting at this moment of the content of submissions because we want to hear all sides of the arguments. Wonderful comments though.

HIV if well managed may not prevent an individual from working, but it may reduce productivity. The extent to which it reduces productivity depends on how often the individual experiences episodes of associated illness. However, if HIV is not well managed and it is progressing to AIDS, certainly it will affect the individual's ability to work. This is why it is important for enterprises or work places to invest in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS, because prevention, early detection and proper management will reduce the effect of HIV/AIDS on workers’ productivity.

Thanks for such a comprehensive response. To add to the aspect of creating awareness, there must be some creativity in doing this. In Botswana for example in the Vocational Training sector, drama was used a medium for creating awareness among vocational students.

Dear class, in the nut-shell, the question was, "does HIV/AIDS (or for that matter any illness) affect the ability of people to work?".

Almost all members have responded in the affirmative so far. The caviat however is whether the effect is so debilitating and so negatively constant that we NOTHING can be done about it. This question was just a teaser and allows us to explore "what impact HIV/AIDS has on businesses" and WHAT interventions businesses should take to ensure that:

Businesses still are sustainable

Businesses still maintain a humane side

firstly, let us discuss our experiences of

persons with HIV/AIDS at the workplace (no names or companies please), and

Whether or not HIV and AIDS affects one's ability to work depends on a number of factors such as the stage of the disease and the kind of support systems in place. Where counselling and testing services are available, backed with availability of treatment, an individual with HIV can work like any other. This is because the disease can be managed just like diabetes.

In societies where HIV is highly stigmatised, people are likely to shun testing and therefore not get treatment at the right time. This then affects their ability to work

The answer is YES for affected individual and NO to unaffected individual. HIV is a menance which naturally affect individual depending on the level of the person's awareness. However, the body soldiers of an individual's is naturally created to protect the body(IMMUNE SYSTEM)to fight germs and if that is not done as a result of the virus, this then open door for attack from other illness (diseases) and once that is done, the person becomes affected. This generally affect the individual at whatever taskgiven to him/her, though its start gradually. At the early HIV stage productivity at work may not be retarded but the psychological trauma of the person if care is not given would affecthis/her productivity. All this depend on the individual CD4 count. The psychology of the individual has to do with his/her thinking and reasoning ability. However, people around the person can help him/her with care and support. The individual can also help himself by attending clinics and seminar.

Hello Colleagues,
This is really a thought-provoking question. General effects of HIV and AIDS on an individual's ability to work may not be seen immediate depending on the state of the victims condition especially in the early stages. Initially, victims may take drugs to alleviate their health challenges and promote their physically activeness but in the long term an with time, the ability of an individual to work will be seriously affected (negatively). It may go beyond businesses but we can all agree to the fact that almost all livelihoods depend on businesses/ enterprises one way or the other. One thing leads to another. When the producer is been affected by HIV and AIDS, he will lose the strength to improve on production and on other hand, when the consumer is also been affected by HIV and AIDS, he may divert his finances into treatment and we can all agree here that HIV and AIDS drugs are very expensive. Effects of HIV and AIDS on an individual's ability to work may be very adverse because declining productivity results in declining profits and inability to meet demands from customers. (Module 4.1: HIV/AIDS and Sustainability of Youth Enterprises, A discussion paper by Victor P. K. Mensah page 10). --Kafuiaheto 16:33, 14 March 2011 (UTC)

It does if an individual is not receiving treatment, support and counselling. It is important for workplaces to have good workplace HIV & AIDS policies that offer support to individuals living with HIV and AIDS.

The issue of HIV and AIDS is one of the most controvential topics in the sense that there are various factors and issues that raises dust. Now to answer to the question as to whether HIV and AIDS affects an individual’s ability to work I can say both yes and no. When someone is just HIV positive their status does not affect their work as long as they keep themselves well, avoid stress and live a healthy and positive life. HIV and AIDS only becomes a problem when an individual becomes constantly sick and absent from the work place. It becomes a problem and its costly both for the individual and the organisation.

Victor
While I appreciate that this is a sensitive issue and comments here may be used to judge our respective sensitivity to the issue of AIDS, I say that HIV/AIDS affects the ability of an individual to work especially if the individual is not living positively; it is a known fact that where stigma is high in society, the AIDS patient developes lack of interest for life and this may lead to erosion of the general motivation to succeed in life which is a major attribute of an enterprenuer.
Therefore, unless we do not want to face facts, AIDS affects the ability of an individual to work; both emotionally and physically at a later stage of the disease.

Yes to some extent if didn’t manage well but the psychological trauma, the depression and inferiority will cause reduction in productivity and individuals ability to work. NO when counseling, other services are available and people around the person can also help with care and support.

HIV and Aids do affect the ability of an individual to work. this depends on how the individual responds to the situation,if the person leaves positively then the effect will be just like any other ailment.

Hi every one,
HIV/AIDS really affects the ability of an individual to work since the condition incacitates .As this condition frequently keeps the individual most of time either in hospital or at home the job suffers. Since health is wealth, the HIV/AIDS infected individual cannot boast of making the desired returno on his investment.Any enterprise should be taken seriously if at all the desired goals are to achieved.

HIV and AIDS affects the ability of an individual to work at the stage where they are feeling sick. However, once an individual knows thier ststus and start treatment they are healthy and can work just like anybody else. They should however take care of thier diet and general physical fitness so that they reduce the times they are sick.--Smauye 13:03, 15 April 2011 (UTC)